Strand severing device



Jan. 10, 1950 c. D. RINEHART ETAI- STRAND SEVERING DEVICE Filed NOV. 27 1946 04m. 0. kl/VEHAW MICHAEL koasum INVENTORS ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10,1950

2.404.400 s-rrmvn ssvaamc nrvrca Girl I). Rlnehart and meme! Kocsuta, Cleveland,

Ohio, assignors to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 27, 1946, Serial No. 712,572

During such an operation should one of these strands become severed, the unbroken strand would continue to be wound on the collecting spool until such time when it would be noticed. The collecting spool would have, as a result, a considerable length of a single strand of yarn which later must be removed to the point where the severed strand ended. This withdrawal of a, single unsevered length of yarn from the spool consumes time and wastes material.

It is obviously a dimcult matter to initially select two supplies of yarn of equal length so that these strands in a later up-twisting or doubling operation would terminate at the same time. A strand severing device would eliminate this difficulty and would also provide such further advantages as saving material and a considerable amount of time. Such a device, however, must be adaptable to a doubling and twisting machine which has a great many moving parts whose simultaneous motion causes a considerable amount of vibration.

Also, a strand severing device used with a doubling and twisting machine should be sensition of a twisting and doubling machine;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent several views, in 45 elevation, side, and top, of the severing device; and I Figure 5 represents, in elevation, the cutting means of the strand severing device.

Referring to the drawing, two supplies l0 and II of strand material are first up-twisted in zones defined by the flyers I4. I8 and guides l8. l9 which are fixed axially above the supplies.

The up-twisted strands l2, I3 then are grouped in a substantially parallel relation by means of a severing device 20 mounted on a laterally moving traverse bar 28. Then the strands are laid in parallel relation on a collecting or take-up spool 22. The strand supplies II and II are ro- 11 Claims. (01. 57-86) shown) while simultaneously the take-up spool 22 is surface driven through contact with the driving roller 28.

The strand severing device 20 advantageously replaces an open V-type guide normally positioned on the traverse bar 28. The strands l2, l3 continually pass through the severing device 20 to the collecting spool until such time when one or the other becomes severed. Immediately upon a severance the device 20 is put into operation, cutting the remaining unsevered strand. The length of the strands, as a result, on the collecting spool 22 will be substantially equal and the spool can later be conveniently used for further operations, such as twisting the parallel strands into cord, with the knowledge that the yarn on the spool 22 will terminate evenly. The severing device is adapted to operate at all times regardless where the break in either of the strands l2, 13 occurs.

The severing device is. primarily, operated by gravity. Generally, the severing device 20 consists of two parts, a cutting unit 29 and a frame in which it is positioned. As shown in Figures 2 through 5, the cutting unit 29 comprises a pair of cutting blades 30, 3| firmly positioned between a pair of semi-circular plates 32, 34 which are held together by nuts 35, 36 threaded on a freely rotatable cylindrical shaft 31. Shaft 31 is rotatably supported on a pin 38. The semicircular plates 32, 34 have radially projecting vertical portions 40, 4| which support a bulletshaped weight 42 internally bored to fit over the projections. The bullet-shaped member 42 may be frictionally forced over the projections 48, 4|. Since the rotating axis of the cutting unit 28 is positioned low, the displacement of weight 42 from its balanced vertical position will cause it to swing downwardly, and thus bring up either 40 blade 30 or 3! to a strand cutting or severing position.

The constant vibration of the doubling and twisting machine because of its many moving parts will never permit the cutting unit 29 to assume a static vertical position unless it is restrained as hereinafter described. Thus, the unit 29 will at all times tend to fall in either lateral direction. Essentially the unit 29 forms an inverted pendulum which rotates about the pivot 38. The rotation of the weighted member 42 due to its natural tendency to fall downwardly to a position of rest will, of course, bring up the cutting edges unless it is restrained from falling.

A generally U-type frame 44 is provided for the support of the cutting unit 29. .The pin 38 extends through each of the vertical sections of the frame member 44. The pin extends beyond one of the vertical sections of the frame tated by means of moving belts 23. 24 (partially member, the extended portion of the pin being threaded to enable a, nut 39 to hold it securely in position. Frame 44 is adapted to be conveniently mounted on the rectangular traverse bar 28, being held firmly thereon from both vertical and horizontal displacement by 11011-- zontally rearwardiy extending projections ll, 46 and by means of a screw (not shown) which is adapted to be turned into the traverse bar through provided frame member openings 4?, 8. A bent bar Si is fixed to the front of the frame 44 to shield the head of the pin 38 and the head of a screw 52 which holds a wire spring 53 in position, the function of which will hereinafter be described.

There are provided, further, open V-type guides 19, 50 in the frame member 46. The guides are positionedin each vertical section of the frame member in the front of and in the ticular portion which bearsagain'st the member 42 so as to make a positive point for engagement with the groove 54. The compression of the spring is such so as to only substantially back of the cutting unit 29. The guide 19 groups p the strands of yarn into a parallel relation before their separation when led on either side of the member 42, and guide 50 groups them again before they are collected on the collecting spool or bobbin 22.

In the up-twisting operation the yarn stands are placed under a certain tension. This tension is utilized in the operation of the severing evice in positioning the vertical member 42 substantially in an upright position, thus keeping the cutting blades inoperative. No sooner, however, does a. strand break then the cutting unit 29 is rotated in the direction of no resistance, bringing up the cutting blades to sever the unbroken strand. The tension, which is substantially equal in each strand is thus adapted to continually position the member 42 until a break occurs. Further, an added impetus is given the cutting unit 29 by the tension in the remaining unsevered strand. The strand tends to straighten out between the guides, thus forcibly dislodging the member 42 causing it to rotate faster than it would if permitted to fall normally.

When the machine is brought to a standstill, there occurs, of course, a loss of tension in both I strands due to the disappearance of the centrifugal force which results in the ballooning of the strands as they are withdrawn off the supplies iii and Ii. When such stoppage occurs and without some means to keep the cutting unit 29 upright, the unit would tend to fall very To prevent the possible severing of the strands when the machine is stopped, or when restarted, the severing device is provided with a means which will keep the cutting unit 29 in an upright position irrespective of whether the strands are in tension or not. There is provided within the frame member 44 a compression spring 53 held in position by screw 52 threaded into the front vertical section of the frame 44 and which spring frictionally bears against the surface of the lower portion of the member 42. There is further provided a shallow groove 54 into which the bearing portion of the spring 53 slips to frictionally prevent the member 42 from losing spring 53 is, further, sharply bent at the parmaintain the member 42 from rotating and it is not great enough to resist the tension in either of the passing strands should one become severed. The tension in the remaining unbroken strand is generally great enough to dislodge the 'member 42 from its frictionally held position when such a strand tends to straighten between the guides of the severing device.

Thus there is provided by this invention a rugged and simple strand severing device which is adapted for use on twisting or doubling machines, and which is also adaptable for use on any other type of doubling machines.

We claim:-

1. A device for severing the remaining strand of a plurality of strands passing therethrough comprising means for guiding at least two strands to a cutting means, pivoted cutting means between said guiding means, said cutting means being inoperatively positioned by the said passing strand, means positioned between said guiding means adapted to keep separated said strands and said strand separating means comprising a vertically positioned member above the cutting means, said vertical member being adapted to rotate said cutting means into the path of the remaining unsevered strand when the other of said strands becomes severed.

2. A device for severing the remaining strand adapted to keep separate said strands while' passing through said device, said weighted vertical member being urged by a straightening of the unsevered strand between said guiding means to gravitationally rotate when one of said strands become severed thereby raising a cutting edge into the path of the other of said unsevered strands.

3. A strand severing device comprising, a generally U-shaped frame member, a pin within said frame member supported by the upright portions of said frame member, an open guide in each of said upright portions, strand severing means pivotally mounted on said pin and within said frame member, said strand severing means comprising a pivoted cutting means adapted to sever strands passing through the guides of said frame member, a vertically positioned weighted member above said cutting means adapted to keep separated strands passing through said guides, said vertical member being adapted to gravitationally rotatably fall when A a separated strand is severed to bring up the cutting means into an operative cutting position for severing the remaining passing unsevered strand.

4. A strand severing device comprising, a generally U-shaped frame member, a pin within said frame member supported by the upright portions of said frame member, an open guide in each of said upright portions, strand severing means pivotally mounted on said pin and within said frame member, said strand severing means comprising a pivoted cutting means adapted to sever strands passing through the guides of said frame member, a vertically positioned weighted member above said cutting means adapted to keep separated strands passing through said guides, said vertical member being adapted to gravitationally rotatably fall when a separated strand is severed to bring up the cutting means into an operative cutting position for severing the remaining passing unsevered strand, and means for frictionaily holding said vertical weighted member from rotating when said passing strands are in substantially equal tension or are not in tension.

5. In combination witha doubling and twisting apparatus having at least two yarn supplies and a take-up spool for the yarn supplies, a laterally operating traverse adapted to lay said yarn supplies on said take-up spool, a yarn-severing device mounted on said traverse and positioned in the path 01' the yarn supplies, said severing devicecomprising an inoperatively positioned pivoted yarn cutting means, a yarn guide ahead of and to the rear of said cutting means, said guide adapted to position said yarn strands in proximity to the cutting portion of said cutting means, a vertical member above said cutting portion of said cutting means, said vertical member being adapted to separate said passing yarn, and said vertical member being adapted to pivot the cutting portion into the path or the unsevered yarn when the other of said yarns becomes severed.

6. In a strand doubling and twisting machine having at least two supplies of yarn strands adapted to be withdrawn in a substantially parallel manner and thence collected as closely associated substantially parallel strands on a take-up device, a strand severing means positioned in the path of said parallel strands comprising, a pivoted, eccentrically-weighted, gravity-actuated cutting kniie, guides ahead of and to the rear of said cutting knli'e for guiding said strands in proximity to said cutting knife, a weighted vertical member above said cutting knife adapted to separate said parallel passing strands, said passing strands by passing on either side of said member being adapted to hold said knife in an inoperative position, means irictionally holding saidkniie in an inoperative position when said passing strands are not in tension, or are in substantially equal tension and said vertical member being adapted to rotate said cutting kniie into the path of an unsevered strand when the other of said strands becomes severed.

7. A device for severing the remaining strand of a pair or running strands when one or said strands becomes severed comprising, a pair of unsevered running strands, a pivoted cutting means positioned in the path or said running strands being adapted to rotate in a plane substantially perpendicular to their direction of travel, said-cutting means being inoperatively held by the opposing tension in the running strands and being adapted to be released by said strands to sever the remaining unsevered strand when the other strand becomes severed.

8. A device for severing the remaining strand of a pair oi running strands when one oi said strands becomes severed comprising, a pair or unsevered running strands, a pivoted cutting means positioned in the path or said running strands being adopted to rotate in a plane substantially perpendicular to their direction of travel, said cutting means being inoperatively held by the opposing tension in the running strands, said cutting means being urged by the tension in the remaining unsevered strand to freely rotate into the path of the remaining unsevered strand to sever said unsevered strand when the other strand becomes severed.

9. A device for severing the remaining strand of a pair of running strands when one of said strands becomes severed comprising, a pair of unsevered running strands, an eccentrically weighted pivoted cutting means positioned in the path of said running strands being adapted to rotate in a plane substantially perpendicular to their direction of travel, said cutting means being inoperatively held and vertically balanced by the opposing tension in the running strands and being adapted to be released by said strands, when one of said strands becomes severed, to gravitationally rotate into the path of the remaining unsevered strand to sever said unsevered strand.

10. A device for severing the remaining strand oi a pair of running strands passing therethrough when one of said strands becomes severed comprising, a pair of unsevered running strands, means for guiding said strands into proximity of a cutting means, an eccentrically weighted pivoted cutting means positioned in the path of said guided running strands being adapted to rotate in a plane substantially perpendicular to their direction of travel, said cutting means being inoperatively held by the opposing tension in the running strands exerted against the eccentrically weighted portion and being adapted to be rotated by force of gravity into-the path of the remaining unsevered strand when the other strand becomes severed.

11. A device for severing the remaining strand of a pair .of running strands passing therethrough when one of said strands becomes severed comprising, a pair of unsevered running strands, means for guiding said strands into proximity oi a cutting means, an eccentrically weighted pivoted cutting means positioned in the path of said guided running strands being adapted to rotate in a plane substantially perpendicular to their direction 01' travel, means positioned within said guiding means above said cutting means and rotating therewith being adapted to keep said strands separated to present each of said strands individually to said cutting means, said cutting means being inoperatively held by the opposing tension in the running strands and being adapted to rotate by force of gravity into the path 01' the remaining unsevered strand to sever said strand when one of the separated strands becomes severed.

CARL D. RINEHART. MICHAEL KOCSUTA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Collins July 14, 1936 

